Decision time is here

Published: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.

Local businesses and fishermen involved in the BP claims settlement have until Nov. 1 to decide whether they’ll take a settlement payment or pursue legal action against the oil giant.

That’s not an ideal timeline, as thousands of would-be claimants have no idea how much they’ll be offered as part of the settlement.

BP has committed to paying for the financial hit shrimpers and others suffered in the wake of the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and the months-long spill that followed.

That life-altering blast killed 11 workers and spewed millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, fouling waters and beaches and plunging the tourism, seafood and oilfield industries of this state and others into uncertainty.

A federal drilling ban idled local industry. Fishermen traded their trawls for boom, motoring their boats through water stained with crude and dispersants. Processors watched the national markets and demand for their seafood evaporate as images of oiled beaches, pelicans and sea life hit the nation’s airwaves and newspapers.

Some are still struggling to recover from the temporary disruption.

Yet, more than two years after the tragedy, BP still hasn’t offered up settlement specifics. It has, however, given those affected a do-or-die deadline that’s just three weeks away.

Fishermen and others say it’s not fair that they are being forced to make such an important decision without adequate information.

They have a valid point.

Unfortunately, they don’t have much choice.

The time has come to decide which path to take.

Those who think they are entitled to claim money can take action now and hope that the offer will be fair. There’s a hearing set for Nov. 8 intended to determine just that.

Or they can roll the dice and hire a lawyer.

After two years and several lackluster harvest seasons, most “will be forced” to take the first option, according to Clint Guidry, president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association and chairman of Go Fish, an organization that’s filed objections to the settlement.

Whether his prediction becomes reality or not remains to be seen.

But one thing is abundantly clear: Decision time is here.

Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.

<p>Local businesses and fishermen involved in the BP claims settlement have until Nov. 1 to decide whether they'll take a settlement payment or pursue legal action against the oil giant.</p><p>That's not an ideal timeline, as thousands of would-be claimants have no idea how much they'll be offered as part of the settlement.</p><p>BP has committed to paying for the financial hit shrimpers and others suffered in the wake of the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and the months-long spill that followed.</p><p>That life-altering blast killed 11 workers and spewed millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, fouling waters and beaches and plunging the tourism, seafood and oilfield industries of this state and others into uncertainty.</p><p>A federal drilling ban idled local industry. Fishermen traded their trawls for boom, motoring their boats through water stained with crude and dispersants. Processors watched the national markets and demand for their seafood evaporate as images of oiled beaches, pelicans and sea life hit the nation's airwaves and newspapers.</p><p>Some are still struggling to recover from the temporary disruption. </p><p>Yet, more than two years after the tragedy, BP still hasn't offered up settlement specifics. It has, however, given those affected a do-or-die deadline that's just three weeks away.</p><p>Fishermen and others say it's not fair that they are being forced to make such an important decision without adequate information.</p><p>They have a valid point.</p><p>Unfortunately, they don't have much choice.</p><p>The time has come to decide which path to take.</p><p>Those who think they are entitled to claim money can take action now and hope that the offer will be fair. There's a hearing set for Nov. 8 intended to determine just that.</p><p>Or they can roll the dice and hire a lawyer.</p><p>After two years and several lackluster harvest seasons, most “will be forced” to take the first option, according to Clint Guidry, president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association and chairman of Go Fish, an organization that's filed objections to the settlement.</p><p>Whether his prediction becomes reality or not remains to be seen.</p><p>But one thing is abundantly clear: Decision time is here.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>